Arch support



Feb. 19, 1929, 1,702,531

H. AMBILL ARCH SUPPORT Filed July 25, 1927 3 2 & a

1a 1 a I 1:1 I 5 1 1 J g-"13 5 3 3 6 1 1 8 9 INV ENTOR Patented Feb. 19,1929.

PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY I. AMBILL, OF DORMONT, PENNSYLVANIA.

ARCH SUPPORT.

Application filed July 23, 1927. Serial No. 207,871.

The purpose which I have in view is the provision of a new and improvedsupport for the longitudinal, longitudinal-lateral and transverse archesof the foot.

My support is formed of resilient material preferably of a porouscharacter.

Thus I prefer to employ for the purpose sponge-rubber.

One novel feature of my present invention is the medication of thesupport, the material of the same being impregnated with chemicalshaving soothing antiseptic and deodorant properties.

Another novel feature is the provision of means for preventitng thesupport from slipping or shifting in the shoe.

Other novel features are found in the contour of the upper surface ofthe support irdapting it to properly fit and support the oot.

Other novel features of construction and also of relative arrangementwill appear from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein I have illustrated the bestembodiment of the principles of'my invention now known to me, Fig. 1 isa plan view of the arch support; Fig. 2 is an inverted plan view of thesame; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section thereof taken along the lineIII-III in Fig. 1, and Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are sectional views takenrespectively .along the lines IVIV; VV, and VIVI in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, the arch support is preferably molded ofsponge-rubber and has the proper perimetral contour to be inserted in ashoe, the supports being made in rights and lefts. I

The underside of the support is provided with a plurality of sunkenrecesses 1 surrounded by a low beading 1 by meansof which the supportobtains a" suction grip on the inside of the shoe, thus preventingslipping or shifting.

This is an important improvement, since with the high heels now popularthe insole of the shoe has a pronounced forward pitch. To keep thesupport at all times sweet and clean and also soothing to the sole ofthe foot,

I impregnate the porous material with medicating chemlcals which haveantiseptic, soothmg and deodor1z1ng properties.

For this purpose I prefer to use a mixture made up in volume of about 3%of zinc-stearate; 0.25% of chloride of lime; 1% of tannic acid, 95.50%of bismuth-subnitrate, and 0.25% of a perfume such as powdered rose.

This mixture in powdered form may be blown by air into the pores of thematerial or may be made into an aqueous solution in which the supportmay be dipped or soaked and then dried.

The contour of the top surface of the support will now be described.

The portion which supports the os calcis bone comprises a low roundedboss 2 surrounded at the sides and rear by a shallow trough 3. i

I find that the contour above described provides a much better and morecomfortable support for the lower end of the heel bone than the sunkenseat which is characteristic of the prior art.

The inside of the longitudinal-lateral arch of the foot or the instep issupported by the longitudinally disposed ridge 4 whose inner wall isarcuate to follow the hollow of the instep, from which a gradual inclineor slope 5 extends to the outer side of the instep.

6 is a recess for the ball of the great toe and in front of the same isa portion 7 which in olines downwardly toward the front and toward theinner side of the support to accommodate the great toe.

8 is a low gradual elevation which extends longitudinally of the supportbetween the great toe and the lesser toes and 9 is a gradual inclineextending forwardly and toward the outer side edge of the support toaccommodate the lesser toes.

It is evident from the foregoing that my arch support properly sustainsthe longitudinal and transverse arch of the foot and also the metatarsalbones.

It may be worn without discomfort or cramping and will maintain itsposition in the shoe.

lVhat I desire to claim is An arch support having a heel portioncomprising a central. elevation surrounded at sides vand rear by a lowtrough, an instep portion inclined downwardly toward the outside edge ofthe support, in front of said inclined portlon a depression for the ballof the great toe, in

front of said depression a forwardly inclined at the portion beneath thearch of the foot end portion for supporting the toes, and an elevaathird group at the toe portion, the portions tion between the great toeportion and the intermediate said groups being free from suc- 10 lessertoe portion, said arch support being tion cups.

5 formed of elastic material and having suc- Signed at Pittsburgh this18th day of July,

tion cups on its under side arranged in groups 1927. t with one group atthe heel portion, one group HARRY P. AMBILL.

